Crystal Lies by Melody Carlson Page A

actually sinking in. My husband, the man I’d been married to for twenty-five years, was probably having an affair. It all seemed so unreal, so cliché even. Hadn’t I seen this same movie on Lifetime last year? I felt trapped in someone else’s nightmare, unable to even take it all in. I was so distracted by those emotions I didn’t even notice that the note I’d left taped to the door was gone as I went inside.
    “Mom,” said Jacob with a smile.
    I blinked into the light. “Jacob?”
    “Are you all right?” He came closer now, putting his hand on my shoulder. To my surprise he didn’t look too bad. His was clean and shaved and even looked sober.
    “I…uh…I’m not sure.”
    “What’s wrong?” He reached over and plucked a rhododendron leaf from my hair. “Where have you been anyway?”
    I sank down onto the couch and just shook my head. Then before I had time to think or reconsider, I poured out my awful story.
    Jacob gently put his arm around my shoulder and actually hugged me. “It’s going to be okay, Mom,” he said in a soothing and surprisingly mature voice.
    I looked at him through my tears and somehow, despite my broken heart, I was able to smile. “I’m so glad you came home, Jake.” He nodded. “I’m sorry I’m so late, but I got a job.”
    I blinked. “You got a job?”
    “Yeah, a friend of mine helped me get on at Mama Mia’s Pizza.” He made a face. “It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing, and I get free food.”
    I reached out and hugged him then. “Oh, Jacob, I’m so proud of you.
    He frowned. “Well, I haven’t done much to make you proud
yet
. And I’m really sorry that I’ve been such a total screwup, but that’s all going to change now.”
    “Really?” I studied his face and was surprised at how bright and happy his countenance appeared. Almost as if he’d had some sort of revelation.
    “Yeah. I had some time to think about everything—you know, my life and where it’s heading and everything. And, to be totally honest, I wasn’t making the greatest choices when I first left home. I did some stuff, well, some things I’m not too proud of. But I woke up a couple of days ago, and I just realized this has to stop.”
    I nodded eagerly. “Yes! You’re right, Jacob. Oh, I’m so happy for you.”
    He smiled. “Yeah, I am too. And I made this really good friend. His name is Daniel, and he’s a lot older than me, about thirty I think, but he’s been through a lot of the same kind of stuff, and he really understands me. He’s the one who helped get me on at Mama Mia’s.”
    “That’s great.” I reached for a tissue to wipe the tears from my face.
    “And I’m really sorry about that crap with you and Dad.” He scowled. “I had a feeling that something like that was going on.”
    “Really?”
    “Remember, I sort of tried to warn you that day I left home. I said we were all going to get hurt.”
    I nodded. “So that’s what you meant.”
    “One time I went to Dad’s office to see if he could loan me some gas money, just so I could get home, you know. Anyway, his secretary wasn’tthere, so I just walked in like normal. And I didn’t exactly see anything for sure, but the way those two were acting, you know, the looks on their faces. I felt pretty sure I’d caught them at something. But the truth is, I was a little strung out at the time, so later on I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it or not. But I really don’t think I did.”
    “Do you remember when that was?”
    He frowned. “A pretty long time ago. Like last spring maybe. I think I was still in school.”
    “Oh.”
    He shook his head. “Man, I’m really sorry, Mom. It looks like the guys in your life have really let you down.”
    “No,” I said firmly. “Your dad has let me down—hugely. But you’re getting your life back on track now, Jacob. Honestly, I don’t think anyone else could’ve helped me through this night the way that seeing you has done.”
    He smiled brightly